3 Hawks named to Pro Bowl

Three former Iowa Hawkeyes were named to the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl.  Tyler Linderbaum was named to the AFC roster at Center. George Kittle and Sam LaPorta were named to the NFC roster at Tight End. All three Hawks played for a team that won their NFL Division and will be competing in the Playoffs.

Linderbaum, originally from Solon, Iowa has quickly risen in the ranks as an elite center for the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens led the NFL with a 159.7 yards per game rushing this season. It is rare for a center to be named All Pro in just their second year in the league. Last season Linderbaum was named to the All-Rookie team. Linderbaum graduated from Solon in 2018 and from Iowa in 2022. 

George Kittle made the Pro Bowl for the third straight year and fifth overall for the San Francisco 49ers. This season Kittle had 65 receptions for an NFL TE leading 1,020 yards in addition to 6 touchdowns. This was the third time Kittle has had over 1,000 yards receiving in a season. Kittle has to be considered the best tight end in the NFL and he seems to be getting better every season. Kittle, originally from Norman, Oklahoma graduated from Iowa in 2017.

Sam LaPorta capped off a great rookie season by being named to the Pro Bowl. For the year LaPorta had 81 receptions for 860 yards and 9 touchdowns. LaPorta is originally from Highland, Illinois and graduated from Iowa in 2023. From the Detroit Lions: LaPorta is the only tight end in NFL history to produce 70 receptions, 700 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in a player’s rookie season. He’s fourth among all tight ends this season in receptions, sixth in yards and first in touchdowns.”

With three players named to the Pro Bowl Iowa tied for fifth most of any college in the country.

I wanted to point out that the three Hawkeyes named to the Pro Bowl are offensive players.

The 2024 Pro Bowl will be Sunday, February 4 in Orlando, Florida.

Congratulations to the former Hawks making it to the ultimate level in the NFL.